Gas-engine



(N'o Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

H. S. MAXIM. y Y

GAS ENGINE.

No. 279,657. Patented June 19,1883.

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GAS ENGINE.

Patented June 19, 1883'.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3. H. S. MAXIM.

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No. 279,657. Patented June 19,1883.

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Patented June 19, 1883.

H. S. MAXIM.

GAS ENGINE.

(No Model.)

i L UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

IIIRAM s. MAXIM, oF rains, FRANCE.

GAS-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 279,657, dated .rune19, 1883.

Application filed December 1, 1882.

To all whom it may conceive.-

Be it known thatl, HIRAM S. MAXIM, a citi- Zen of the United States,residing in Paris, in the Republic of France, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Gas-EIL gines,'of which the following is afull, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the drawingsaccompanying and'formin g a part ofthe same.

My invention relates to gas-engines in which a charge of gas and airmixed in deinite proportions is forced into aworking-cylinder andignited at each stroke of a piston that is impelled by the combustion orexplosion of said mixture; and the objects of the invention are chieflyto improve the construction of said engines, whereby their cost isreduced, and their operation rendered more efficient, steady, andeconomical.

In the drawings, where these' improvements are illustrated in an engineconstructed in accordance with my invention, Figure l is a plan view ofan engine-complete, the eccentric, Ilywheel, and devices acting as agovernor being sh own in section. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal centralsection of the same; Fig. 3, a transverse section on the line I/ y ofFig. 2; Fig. 4, a similar section through the pillow-blocks. Fig. 5represents one of the cylinder-heads in elevation. Fig. 6 is a view inelevation of the other cylinder-head and the apparatus 'connectedtherewith for introducing and exploding the gases. Fig. 7 is ahorizontalcentral section of the same. Fig. 8 is a view,.pa1.tly in section, of a portion of the gas-igniti ng mechan-y ism. Fig. 9 is asection of the cross-head on the line z z of Fig. 2; Fig. 10, a section`of a detail of Inechanism, taken gn line x .r of Fig. 2. Fig. Il. is aview, partly in secti0nof the portion of the apparatus constituting agaspuinp; Fig. Il, a diagrammaticillustration of an eccentric mechanismdesigned for operating the pump; Fig. 12, a view in elevation of theeccentric and rod employed in connection with the gas-exploding devices.Fig. 13 is a side view of the ily-wheel, withv governing mechanismconnected therewith; and Fig. 'li\,

views of the piston-rings ofthe main -cylinder and gas-pump."`

In all the igures similar letters of reference indicate correspondingparts.

(No model.)

rIhe letter A designates the main cylinder of the engine. 4Around it isajacket, A', cast independently and applied in any proper manner.) Pipesc, for the introduction, and a', for the escape, of water are connectedwith the j acket, as shown. The cylinder A is closed at the rear by' aplate, B, through which extends a passage c011- taining anexhaust-valve, Bf. conical in shape, and provi ded with a stem, b. Thisstem extends through an exhaust-chamber, m, and is surrounded by a stoutspiral spring, m', that acts to keep the exhaust-valve closed. Connectedalso to the plate B, and communicating with `the interior of 'thecylinder A by a passage,

' valves, and the lower end of the pipe c is open to the air. A valve,N, with a long stem extending through a gland'in the plate B, closes theopening ot' passage m" into the interior of the projecting end ofthestem ot' the valve N and acts to keep it firmly on its seat, and a metalcap, oz, is set over the stem to prevent leakage.

For introducing a ame into the cylinder the following devices areemployed: A chimney, l), constructed for maintaining a draft of air, isattached to or forms part of a suitable casing, D', on the head B.Through the case D works a slide, E, through which are formed theopening E and the small passages e e. The chimney7 D opens into`thespace containing the slide E, and an opening,f, is formed in the casingD directly opposite. A gas-jet, @extends into the chimney D. A passage,d', leads from the interior ot' the cylinder A to .the space containingthe slide E. and a small cylinder A.' A spring, n, is secured aroundIOO - the frame 7c that it will. be moved by it.

posite end ofthe cylinder A to that closed by the plate B enters anair-chamber, O. The piston-rod p of the piston l? works through astuffing-box, p', in the end of this chamber. Two or more valves, j", ofthe common kind known as organ-valves,77 are provided in the end of thechamber O around the stuffing-box. Through the cylinder A are formed anumber of perforations, 0 o, at such a distance from the end that thepiston P may pass beyond them in its normal movement.

The piston-rod p is joined by a cross-head n to the `connecting-rod F.This cross-head is provided with awedge-shaped gib, f, held in place bya bolt and ring, g. The purpose of this is to tighten up the cross-headslide when necessary, this being effected by removing and filing downthe ring g, so that the wedge may be brought farther into thecross-head. The connecting-rod F is connected in the usual manner to acrank-shaft, F, journaled in pillow-blocks g g.

On the shaft F is an eccentric, R, from which extends a rod, R, to theslide E, by means of which the slide Eis reciprocated in unison with themovement of the piston.

G is a rock-shaft passing through one of the pillow-blocks. On one endis fixed an arm, G', carrying a roller, H, and 011 the other is an arm,H', connected to the piston-rod C of the gas-pump. A flat spring, Z,bears on the inner end of the rock-shaft and keeps the roller H alwaysin proper position.

On the end of the crank-shaft F is the fiy! wheel S, with which arecombineda collar, 7L, provided with a cam, L, and regulating devices,the essential portions of which are as follows: A weight, S, is securedby a flexible plate, s, near the inner surface of the rim of theffy-wheel S, as shown in Fig. l. An arm, s', extends from'the weight andpresses on one end of a frame or lever, k, pivoted tothe hub of thefiy-whecl. A stout spring, c, clamped to one of the spokes of thefiy-wheel, bears onv the opposite end of the frame k. A pin, K, screwedinto the collar 71 is so connected with The action of these devicesdepends on centrifugal force. In case the engine runs too fast theweight tends to occupy a position nearer the rim of the fiy-wheel Thisdepresses the end of the frame k with whicharm s is in contact, and as aresult pin K is moved outward. By this means the collar hr is shifted sothat cam h will pass by the roller H. This is taken adg vantage of inregulating the action of' the engine by the frequency of the dischargesof gas, as will presently appear, for as long as the engine is runningtoo fast the explosions will not occur, owing to the inactivity at suchtimes of the gas-pump.

Under the cross-head slide, and at a point where it will be met by thecross-head near the end of every stroke, is a pivoted lever, T, thelower end of which is connected by a rod, t, with a rod, T', workingthrough a tube, t, that vrior of the cylinder A, is a safety-valveconsisting of a conical valve, Z, with a very stout spring formaintaining it closed, and a screw, L, for adjusting the spr-ing.

The parts which have now been described are preferably mounted on astout base, the

construction of which will be understood by reference to Figs. 2 and 3,where L designates the base. The Vsuperposed portions may be castindependently or the air-chamber O and pillow-blocks may becasttogether. These are,

however, matters not directly affecting the invention. Having, however,described the mechanical construction of the parts composing the engine,I will now describe the operation of the same, pointing out the specialfunctions which each of the features comprising parts of, my inventionare designed to perform.

The pipe c and jet d having been connected with a suitable gas-supplyand the latter ignited, the engine is then turned forward by hand oneturn. By so doing, thecam h, operating on the roller H, imparts motionto the rock-shaft, drives forward the piston of the gas-pump, and forcesthe .mixture of gas and air contained in the pump through the valve N,which the pressure lifts off' its seat. Meanwhile the movement of thepistonl? compresses the air and gas in cylinder A. As the engine turnsonce and the piston reaches its farthest point in the cylinder A theslide E is brought by the eccentric R into a position where the flameenters the cylinder through passage d and explodes the charge. Theexplosion drives the piston P forward and compresses the air in thechamber O. Vhen the piston is within perhaps an inch of the end of theoutstroke, the cross-head encounters the upper end of lever T, whichopens the exhaust-valve B and allows the exploded gases to escape. l Thepiston P, as it travels forward, then passes the perforations 0 0,through which the air compressed in chamber O at once rushes, and,expanding, drives all ofthe exploded gases out through the exhaust-valveB, filling'the cylinder again with pure air. The expansion of the airfrom the heat will increase its volume sufficiently to cause it torather more than fill the cylinder, so that-it will not only drive allthe exploded gases before it, but a little of the air itself will passthrough the exhaust-valve B. O11 the return-stroke the pistonl passesthe perforations o o and draws into chamber O a fresh supply of airthrough the valvesj". After it passes the holes o o the exhaust-valve Bis closed, and at this moment, the' cam h. being brought into contactwith the rollei H, the pump is set in operation for supplyingits secondcharge.

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It will be observed that the passage through which gas is drawn intothe, cylinder of the gaspump contains the double valve c; or it may havetwo independent valves. In either case, if the amount of gas introducedby pipe c" be sufficient to fill the cylinder M, little or no air willbe drawn in along with it. Inasmuch, however, as the presence ofsome'air is desirable, the gas-supply is shut off just sufficiently tocause the requisite proportion of air to be drawn in. The introductionofgas, the compression of air, Vand the explosion follow one another insuch quick succession that theV gas has scarcely time to thoroughly mixwith the air. There `will therefore be alayer of gas and air at one endof the cylinder and a layery of pure air at the other at the instant ofthe explosion. quantity of gas being required under the circumstances,for gas which would produce an explosion when occupying only one-thirdof the space in the cylinder A, when the piston is in the position shownin Fig. 2 would not ex, plode at all if it were mixed with all the airin the cylinder.

In the devices for introducing the iiame into the cylinder the action isas follows: When, after an explosion, the'slide E is thrown back by theeccentric R,the passage e passes by the opening in the gas-chamber e,where unexploded gas under pressure is contained. A portion of this gasenters the forward part of the space E in the slide. Instantly afterwardthe space E coincides with the opening j" and that to the chimney, andthe unexploded is drawn out by the draft in the chimney D. As the gasflows out, too, it is ignited at the Imoment when the slide is drawnforward. The gas in the main cylinder is at this time under pressure, sothat when the passage c passes before the opening into the gas-chant bere gas is forced into the latter. A portion of this isimmediately afterforced through the passage e into the vspace E', so that there will beno danger ofthe flame in the space bey coming extinguished. A furtheradvantage arising from this constructionis that the pressure in thespace E is raised by this extra charge of gas, so that when it is openedinto the passage d the inrush of gas is not so sharp.

It will be observed that the space between thetwo openings c and e isgreater than the diameter of the opening into the gas-chamber c, so thatwhen the chamber is open to one it.

is closed to the other. A groove may be cut in the slide E, if sodesired or found necessary, by means of which gas is brought from jthecylinder A to the space E at the moment when the latter coincides withthe opening f.

A special advantage is secured by entirely surrounding the end 0f thecylinder LA by the airchamber O, as by this means a complete ring ofperforations o o may be made in the cylinder. Thus it is possible tocompletely clear the cylinder of exploded gases during the time that theengine is making only onetwelfth part of its stroke.

A saving is effected by this, a small er In Fig 2 the dotted linesradiating from the 'center of the shaft and from points on theconnecting-rod show the action of the engine by indicatingat what pointsin the stroke the various operations occur, and in Fig. l1 the action ofthe governing mechanism is illustrated, the figure being a diagrammaticrepresentation of the cam h and the various positions occupied'by theroller H with respect to the rock-shaft, which it operates to turn.

`be introduced along with the gas and air.

I have now described an engine constructed in accordance with myinvention and pointed out the mode of operation of the several partscomposing the same. Those parts not herein claimed, but constitutingportions of my invention, will be made the subject-matter of anotherapplication.

What, however, I now claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a gas-engine, the combination, with the workingcylindcr, of anair-compressionchamber, and a pump connected 4to an air and gas supply,the compressioil-chamber and force-pump communicating with the cylinderthrough independent passages located at the forward and rear portions ofthe cylinder, respectively, and constructed and arranged for operation,substantially in the manner herein set forth.

2. The combination, withtheworking-cylin der and piston of 'a gasengine, of passages for the admission of air, located in the forwardportion of said cylinder, a cylinder-head containing an exhaust-valveoperated by the move? ment of the piston, and a pump connected with anair and gas supply and communicating with the cylinder through thehead,as and for the purpose set forth.

3.- The combination, in. a gasvengine, with a cylinder open at one endand a reciprocating piston, of a pump for forcing gas into the cylinderbehind the piston, a device for exploding the gas, and an air-chambercommunicating with the cylinder through its open end, and

4through, perforations formed through. the cylinderuiear that end,substantially as hereinbefore described.

.4. In a 4gasengine, the combination, with the cylinder and piston, andmeans for igniting and expelling the gases within the same, of acylinder and spring-piston constituting a force-pump, a crank-shaftconnected with the main piston, and a cam carried thereby, and arrangedto operate the piston of the force- IOO IOV

pump in Vsubstantially the manner described.

5. The combination, with the cylinder of a gas-engine, of anexhaust-Valve opening inward, a spring for holding the same closed, apivoted lever, one end ot' which lies in the path of the piston orcross-head of the engine, and connections, as' described, by means ofwhich the movement of the lever is caused to open the exhaust,substantially in the manner described.

6. rlhe combination, with the cylinder-head B, of a pump constructed formixing charges of air and gas and forcing the same into the j', thegas-chamber e, the chimney D, and the gas-jet d. p

9. The combination, with the cylinder A, having the `perforations 0 o,of the air-chamber O, of relatively large size and surrounding the endof the cylinder, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. Y Y

10. The combination, with the cross-head in a gas-engine of the kinddescribed, of the pivoted lever T, the connecting-rod t, the sliding rodT', spring t, and the exhaust-valve B, closed by a spring,-substantially as and for the purpose set forth. y

l1. The combination, with the crank-shaft, of the shifting-cam h, theroller H, and rockshaft G, the piston-rod C, spring C, and pumpcylinderM, these parts being constructed and arranged for operationsubstantially in the manner set forth.

12. The combinatiom'with the shaft and flywheel, the shifting-cam h, thepivoted frame k, the spring k, and hinged and weighted arm S,'of therock-shaft G- and force-pump connected therewith, as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 21st day ofSeptember, 1882.

HIB-AM S. MAXIM.

lVitnesses:

RoB'r. M. Hoorn-3R, JosEPH-S. J. EATON.

